Seaweek: a chance to join in and help out
Two Seaweek events organised by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council are a good opportunity for people to get together to help improve the environment or learn more about the coastal environment.
The annual Seaweek Beach Clean-up is a popular annual event and will again be held at Waitangi Regional Park on Saturday. It begins at 9am and finishes with a BBQ for volunteers.
"Just giving a helping hand for a couple of hours helps divert waste away from the ocean. This year we have the Environment Centre joining us with the invaluable job of sorting the recycling and removing the rubbish," says Sally Chandler, Community Engagement Coordinator.
There are many reasons why rubbish and litter end up on Hawke’s Bay beaches. It may have washed up, been left behind by visitors to the beach, been washed down rivers through the stormwater system or illegally dumped.
"Fortunately we continue to see a downward trend in this area, as the amount of rubbish collected last year was down on the previous year. The enhancement of this area, to include the Star Compass and wetlands, is having a beneficial effect, especially on the level of illegal dumping," Sally says.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s second event for Seaweek is a walk around the Ahuriri Estuary on next Wednesday, commencing at 5.30 pm.
Estuaries are valuable habitats along our coastal margins for native and migratory birds, as fish nurseries and for specially adapted plants. Local bird experts will talk about the epic flights of the Kuaka (Godwit) and other migratory birds that visit this estuary.
Fleur Lincoln from Napier City Council will also join the walk to provide an update on the Ahuriri Estuary and Coastal Edge Masterplan. The meeting point for the walk is at the Embankment Road end of the Estuary opposite the Westshore Beach Inn.
